All-rubber V-rings

All-rubber V-rings are used for rotating shafts in an extremely wide range of applications. The V-ring can be used alone to protect a wide assortment of bearing types from contaminants while reliably retaining the lubricant. They are also often used as secondary seals to protect primary seals in highly contaminated environments.

V-rings are installed on shafts and their thin, tapered lip seals against a counterface perpendicular to the shaft (fig 1). V-rings have an interference fit on the shaft, rotate with it and act as flingers (fig 2). Angular misalignment of the shaft relative to the counterface can be tolerated (fig 3). V-rings provide reliable sealing even if the shaft is out-of-round or rotates eccentrically (fig 4). The amount by which the shaft can be displaced axially is governed by the permissible displacement of the V-ring relative to its counterface.

V-rings are made entirely of elastomers without fabric or metal reinforcement and are therefore easy to install. They can be stretched and, depending on size, pushed over other components like flanges, pulleys or even housings. This is a very valuable feature, especially when replacing a seal.